WEAC members earn National Board Certification

WEAC works with the Wisconsin National Board Network
to provide resources and support
for members seeking National Board Certification.
Find out more at weac.org/NBC

Three dozen WEAC members achieved certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in 2014, bringing the total number of Board Certified teachers in Wisconsin to 1,015.

Through the Wisconsin Education Association Council, many of the newly certified teachers received support such as mentoring and training to help them through the intense process.

“Wisconsin teachers are deeply committed to the success of every student. Our students are at the center of everything we do,” said Betsy Kippers, a teacher and president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council. “The dedicated professionals who undertook the years-long process of National Board Certification did so on their own time, with their own money, because they were determined to improve their skills for the benefit of their students.”

Wisconsin ranks 17th in the nation when it comes to the number of new NBCTs this year, and about six out of the 10 of them are members of the union, Kippers said. “Our union has a strong system in place for assisting teachers in reaching this summit,” she said. “From partnering at the national level to hosting hands-on retreats to helping teachers network with each other, the union is a strong partner in achieving education excellence.”

The registration deadline is January 23 for a WEAC NBPTS Writing Retreat to be held Friday, February 6, through Sunday, February 8, at the Holiday Inn in Pewaukee. This Writing Retreat is designed for WEAC members interested in pursuing National Board Certification.Find out more and register now!

Findings from Harvard University’s Center for Education Policy Research show students whose teachers are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards have higher rates of achievement than their peers in the same districts.

Kippers noted that, with state and federal focus on school improvement, and Wisconsin’s new educator evaluation system in its first year, the union continues to focus on professional practice.

“Ask teachers why they teach and they will say they believe in children,” Kippers said. “Good teachers go the extra mile to connect with children and unlock their potential, and that’s why our union offers in-person professional help in achieving their goals.”

Certification consists of four components: written assessment of content knowledge, reflection on student work samples, video and analysis of teaching practice, and documented impact and accomplishments as a teaching professional. The voluntary process generally takes two to three years to complete.

Wisconsin is among approximately two-thirds of states that provide salary incentives and cover some costs to achieve the advanced credential. Those who teach in state schools can receive up to $2,000 to reimburse the cost of earning national board certification and nine annual stipends of $2,500 if they remain employed as Wisconsin educators. Wisconsin teachers who work in high-need, high-poverty schools in the state can receive an additional $2,500 annually. In addition, teachers with a Wisconsin Professional Educator License can qualify for the Wisconsin Master Educator License after earning NBCT certification.

A total of 62 Wisconsin teachers statewide earned certification this year. Of the 39 Wisconsin public school districts with newly certified teachers for 2014, the Beloit, Franklin Public, Kimberly, and Northland Pines school districts each had four educators earn national certification.